311
GENERAL HOWARD ON INDIAN FIGHTING.
On the part of our Eastern people at times much objection has been raised, in letters and in the press, against the use of Indian scouts in dealing with Indians on the warpath. The fear is that by using Indians in trailing and skirmishing and other warlike operations we keep them excited, and diminish their interest in peaceful pursuit; so that they are more likely to shed blood among each other, and more inclined to retaliate their wrongs, or fancied wrongs, upon the settlers. Still, it is next to impossible for a commander successfully to follow Indian raiders or locate Indian camps without Indian scouts....
There is a disposition on the part of men who have military knowledge, but who have had only a limited military experience, severely to criticise all plans of operation. No commander can succeed in any warfare without formulated plans. Yet, to make these good, it is necessary to have accurate knowledge of the country he occupies, and of the enemy. It does not do, however, to hesitate in Indian affairs. Use what information you can gather, and, for the rest, conjecture what is most probable, plan quickly, and act at once.-[July Overland.
BUFFALO BILL A TEETOTALER -Mr. G. P. Mills, the greatest record-breaker of the day, writing in the July issue of the "Young Man," tells us that soda and milk is a good drink for cyclists; but when "scorching" it is too sticky, and plain water is preferable. "Lemon squash," he adds, "made with water instead of soda water is also very refreshing, and an excellent drink for quenching thirst." As regards the question of total abstinence, I notice that the manager of the Wild West Show, in reply to an inquiry from the editor of the "Young Man," states that Buffalo Bill is a total abstainer, and adds: "Our people are abstainers generally, their hazardous work requiring complete self-possession at all times. All the great marksmen of the world are abstainers, the use of stimulants being fatal to them professionally."-[Pall Mall Budget.
A ROYAL WEDDING AT PEKIN.- Telegrams from Shanghai state that the forthcoming marriage of the young Emperor Kwagau is officially announced. The subject was first mentioned informally at the beginning of last year, and we are now told that the youthful ruler and- what is more important- the ex-Empress Regent have at last made a selection of the lady whom they deem worthy to be the wife of the Sovereign of the Middle Kingdom. The ceremony is to be marked by exceptional festivities, the cost of which is computed at [British pound] 1,000,000 sterling. The last occasion of a Chinese Emperor's marriage was in October, 1872, when Tungche married Lady Ahluta. Numerous changes are expected in the personnel of the Imperial Administration.-[Pall Mall Budget.
312
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.
Hon. Robert M. McLane and family have sailed on the steamer Normandie from Havre for New York.
Wayne MacVeagh, at a Savage Club dinner in London recently, made a very clever hit. In the course of a long speech he said to his English auditors: "We admire your pictures -and buy them; we welcome your actors-and pay them; we read your books-and steal them."
Col. M. J. Nickel, who is associated with William F. Cody and Nate [Saisbury?] in the "Wild West Show," in London, returned to this country on Saturday. "The Wild West is a great go," he says. "We have had from 15,000 to 18,000 people present daily and expect to run the show until October, when we will go to Paris and show at the Hippodrome."
Gen. Fitz John Porter is at Spring Lake Beach, N. J.
Henry Irving has been elected a trustee of Shakespeare's birthplace, at Stratford-upon-Avon, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Dr. Ingleby.
Mr. F. Marion Crawford will return to America in October and spend the winter here.
A year ago County Commissioner Van Pelt, of Chicago, who is now being tried for bribery, was at the head of a delegation of business men who called on the President to ask him to [appoint?] [McGarigle?], now a fugitive, to the Marshalship of the NorthernDistrict of Illinois. Mr. Cleveland, with whom first impressions go a great way, did not like the looks of either Van Pelt or McGarigle, and appointed another man.
George Francis Train is said to have declined an offer of 31,000 for thirty lectures.
Senator Sherman and party arrived at Toronto yesterday.